A civil society organization, Women’s Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative (WRAPA), has embarked on a sensitisation campaign Federal Capital Territory (FCT), to end violence against women and children in the community.
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It also called on the federal government to give a chance for the provision of funding for the Violence Against Persons Prohibition (VAPP) Act.

The Project Coordinator of WRAPA, Christiana Eguma, while addressing journalists during a sensitisation program in Kuje Area Council, in commemoration of the 16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence with the theme: “UNITE! Invest to Prevent Violence Against Women and Girls”.

Eguma said that the fight against gender-based violence should not be reliant on the government alone, but should be a collective effort of CSOs, well-meaning individuals and other stakeholders.
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She further called for the implementation of policies that will aid the fight against Gender-Based Violence, GBV in Nigeria.

She said: “We need to all come together. Actually the government cannot do everything, but where the government can come in, is in terms of policy, making sure that policies are in place to prevent violence against women and girls.

“The government can also help by budgeting for the VAP Act that has been passed, they are having a challenge of implementation right now, even from the Area Council their budget should be gender responsive so that they have a cost because for people who are victims of GBV, sometimes what is their drawback is that they don’t have money to access justice.

“Government should make available like the legal aid council whereby people can go for the pro bono lawyers that can help them with cases.
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“Government can also help in the case of having a specialized court in handling GBV offenders so as to expedite the trials and judgements. People are always afraid because of prolonged cases in court, so they get tired and back out.

“Our problem has always been implementation, but one of the things Nigeria can begin to do is to ensure that committees or there are people in place to ensure implementation.

“It also includes what CSOs and other bodies can put their hands together and push for the government to have a cost budget for implementation of policies because some of these policies involve funds. So there is a need to have a cost budget for implementation of every policy that has been passed”.

Speaking in the same vein, Rev Dr. Istifanus Koce, representing the Interim Chairman of CAN Kuje Area Council, said: “Gender-based violence is something that’s enshrined in the scripture, you don’t need to think about it twice. Generally, the scripture is against violence more especially to the women. So with constant teachings, preaching and sensitisation, we can reduce some of the cases of GBV”.

Also, Executive Director, Keen and Care initiative (KCI), Joseph Alabi, said, “Poverty is one of the major things that make people’s do other things that causes problems at home.”
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